Dubai Scores – 33 / 53 (62%)
WTA Dubai Final Prediction for Saturday
Day 7 – 1/1
Svitolina d. Wozniacki in 3 sets – Always a stab in the dark with predictions but this even more so, is almost too close to call. A few thoughts in my latest Set Points post.
WTA Dubai Final Poll for Saturday
WTA Dubai SF Predictions for Friday
Day 6 – 1/2
Kerber d. Svitolina in 3 sets – Preview
Wozniacki d. Sevastova in 2 sets – Thoughts in Thursday’s Set Points article
WTA Dubai SF Polls for Friday
WTA Dubai QF Predictions for Thursday
Day 5 – 3/4
Kerber d. Konjuh in 2 sets – I want to honour my original Konjuh semi-final prediction – after such a long match on Wednesday where she took a medical time-out during the second set against Vesnina and now playing a resurgent Kerber, i’m favouring the world number two. Hope it’s a good one though, I think these two playing well at the same time could produce a smashing match.
Svitolina d. Davis in 3 sets – Svitolina leads the head-to-head, 3-0 although each match they’ve played has been a little closer with Svitolina needing three sets at the US Open last year in a 6-1 4-6 6-3. Again, I think Svitolina needs to improve in this one but one area where she really excels is her resilience and she can just keep running and wearing down most opponents. Davis has played a lot of tennis and I think Svitolina just won’t go away.
Bellis d. Wozniacki in 2 sets or ret. – Admired Wozniacki gritting out the win over Bondarenko, coming from a set down. However, it was quite a physical match and she had her leg taped up after a medical time-out towards the end of the second set. She said it was a slight strain to her groin. It wouldn’t surprise me to see Woz pull out after all the matches she has played over the past two weeks. Tough to know if Bellis can back up her win over Radwanska but I like her confidence.
Sevastova d. Wang in 3 sets – Eeek, not a clue! Wang’s yet to drop a set this week but my only real thought for the match is that a confident Sevastova might be tactically astute enough to make Wang uncomfortable.
WTA Dubai QF Polls for Thursday
WTA Dubai R3 Predictions for Wednesday
Day 4 – 4/8
Makarova d. Davis in 3 sets – Hmm this is probably the toughest pick of the day for me. Makarova has won their two previous matches in straight sets but Davis has become this winning machine over the last six months. Confidence is high, as demonstrated by two come-from-behind wins. Makarova seems to be playing well this week and her stats were impressive vs. Cibulkova including 12 aces.
Mladenovic d. Wang in 2 sets – Lovely to see Mladenovic playing with confidence. Wang is good enough to take this on a Mlads off day but I think the Frenchwoman is in control of her game right now.
Svitolina d. McHale in 3 sets – Svitolina will need to play a bit better than she did against Zheng. I’d fancy this to be a gruelling three set battle with Svitolina sneaking it.
Kerber d. Puig in 2 sets – Fun match-up, Puig is obviously a danger but my hunch is that Kerber will take this.
Radwanska d. Bellis in 2 sets – Bellis has had a great week and shown bundles of resilience to win her two matches in straight sets having dug her way out of trouble in three of the four sets she has played. To be honest, I don’t see her causing Radwanska too many problems.
Wozniacki d. Bondarenko in 2 sets – Wozniacki has played a lottt of tennis, seven matches in seven days, but I don’t really see how Bondarenko can keep things steady enough to rock the Woz boat.
Konjuh d. Vesnina in 3 sets – This is an interesting one, Vesnina’s doing a pretty good job so far this year and did well to take out Doi in straight sets today. I’m sticking with Konjuh who has looked at home on the Dubai courts this week. This will need a big turnaround though from their only previous match in Auckland where Vesnina won, 6-3 6-1.
Peng d. Sevastova in 2 sets – Sevastova leads the head-to-head, 2-0 including a 6-1 6-1 (!) win in Budapest in 2010. Peng’s playing at a high level right now…
WTA Dubai R3 Poll for Wednesday
WTA Dubai R2 Predictions for Tuesday
Day 3 – 9 / 15
Kerber d. Barthel in 3 sets – Preview
Garcia d. Puig in 3 sets – A lucky dip to be honest. Both hit big, both can miss big and anything is possible on these courts. I’ve gone for Garcia as she was mostly clutch in her first round match despite not playing anywhere near her best and I think she will likely be fresher.
Konjuh d. Stosur in 2 sets – Konjuh dismantled Zhang’s game in the first round and she said in press that she has been in Dubai since last Wednesday, which must have helped her to adjust to the conditions. Stosur is a match-up type of player but I think Konjuh takes this reasonably comfortably.
Vesnina d. Doi in 2 sets – This feels like a potential upset match but just going on instinct that Vesnina will pull through. The Russian player has improved since her start in Australia.
Cibulkova d. Makarova in 3 sets – A dangerous match for Cibulkova, but I think she’s steadily improving after a slow start in Australia and was speaking a good game in press after Doha. Makarova beat Cibulkova, 6-2 6-7(3) 6-3 but Cibulkova had won their three previous matches before then.
Davis d. Kr. Pliskova in 3 sets – Davis won in three when they played in Luxembourg last year. It depends if Pliskova gets the serve rolling and builds her game behind it. Davis can be deceptively powerful and has been in great form.
Osaka d. McHale in 3 sets – My feeling is that this could be a battle.
Svitolina d. Zheng Saisai in 2 sets – Zheng has plenty of variety but I think Svitolina will be too reliable.
Muguruza d. Bondarenko in 2 sets – Don’t anticipate that Bondarenko will have the staying power to threaten. Muguruza for the win.
Wozniacki d. Golubic in 2 sets – Golubic is up and running after her first win of the year over Buyukakcay. I think Wozniacki will just to be too solid though.
Bellis d. Siegemund in 2 sets – Like Golubic, Siegemund won her first match of the year in the first round. Still, this is an opening for Bellis who had a great win over Poots.
Radwanska d. Mertens in 2 sets – Actually pondered three sets, Mertens is having a great start to the year. I’d fancy at least one tight set with the pair having never played before.
Strycova d. Peng in 3 sets – Hmmm definitely considered Peng after she flew through her opener against Tsurenko. I think the faster courts will help Strycova after a disappointing loss to Stosur in Doha. Peng won their two previous matches but the most recent of those was in 2007!
Riske d. Sevastova in 2 sets – Sevastova won their only previous match in Pattaya City in 2013, 7-6(6) in the third set. I like the way Riske is playing this year and she’s building up her confidence. She has had the tendency in the past to get a little shaky in the key moments.
Wang d. Jabeur in 3 sets – On the fence, Jabeur is such a resourceful player but Wang is pretty solid from the baseline. Expect it to go down to the wire.
Pliskova d. Mladenovic in 3 sets – Very interesting match, Mladenovic is rapidly building confidence in her game. Pliskova’s had a few days off since Doha so I think she should be good to go although may take a bit of time to adjust to the quicker court. Pliskova won their last match, 16-14 in the third set in Fed Cup. Intrigued to see how this one pans out but stayed safe with Pliskova.
WTA Dubai R2 Polls for Tuesday
WTA Dubai R1 Predictions for Monday
Day 2 – 9 / 12
Shvedova d. Puig in 2 sets – I agree, this makes no sense but i’m going with it! Shvedova is on a five match losing streak but I have this feeling that she might snap it here. Puig had a physically demanding week in Doha and will need to adjust to a much quicker court in Dubai, which it certainly will be early in the morning sun. Puig won their last match-up but Shvedova leads the overall head-to-head, 3-1. This is the WTA…
Peng d. Tsurenko in 3 sets – A toss up, Tsurenko has been really good when she has not been injured/ill and had a routine win over Daria Gavrilova in Fed Cup. Peng lost her last match in qualifying for Doha but has been in super form, reaching the final of Taipei City. This will be a first time match-up.
Mladenovic d. Siniakova in 3 sets – A really tough match-up between two first time champs in 2017. Siniakova leads the head-to-head, 2-0, but I like Mladenovic right now following her performances in St. Petersburg.
Konjuh d. Zhang in 3 sets – Another exciting match-up, could see this going either way but the edge to the more dynamic, Konjuh. The Croatian player has posted some very inconsistent results in 2017 but her best is really, really good.
Wozniacki d. Kasatkina in 3 sets – Oh this is difficult. A little unsure of how prepared Wozniacki will be following a gruelling week in Doha but my sense, which is possibly misguided since the pair have never played, is that Wozniacki with an slight hint of aggression (like we saw in Doha), takes this over Kasatkina who is still finding her way in terms of the balance between aggression and defence.
Vandeweghe d. Riske in 2 sets – The head-to-head is close but sensing Vandeweghe’s serve will be the difference. They’ll be playing at night where it is slower but I remember Vandeweghe was all over Ka. Pliskova in a night match in Dubai last year.
Bellis d. Putintseva in 3 sets – Bellis is one to watch this year and while I admit this may be too soon for her following her comeback from injury, I think she stands a chance in this match-up.
Brengle d. Doi in 3 sets – Woah that’s a lot of three setters i’m going for! It shows my lack of confidence with so many close match-ups. In this match-up, i’ve gone for the counter-puncher in Brengle who was very difficult to beat in Dubai last year. Also, Brengle has won their last two matches in straight sets.
Davis d. Minella in 2 sets – Minella had a good run in Taipei City. Davis has been consistently solid since the end of 2016 and has a previous win over Minella from Strasoburg in 2012.
McHale d. Bertens in 3 sets – A big chance for the upset with Bertens losing her last four matches on the tour. Bertens has won her last two matches against McHale though…
Mertens d. Pironkova in 3 sets – Going for the in-form qualifier.
Bondarenko d. Sabalenka in 2 sets – Bondarenko has a habit of going on detours but i’ll give her the benefit of the doubt over the 18-year-old.
WTA Dubai R1 Polls for Monday
WTA Dubai R1 Predictions for Sunday
Day 1 – 6/12
Garcia d. Larsson in 2 sets – A first-time match-up… Larsson battled her way through to the final qualifying round in Doha having withdrawn from the Australian Open and pulled out of her first match in St. Petersburg. I think that Garcia will have too much power on this fast court for Larsson.
Stosur d. Zhang in 2 sets – Things are looking up for Stosur and this is a good draw on paper.
Osaka d. Chang in 2 sets – Another first time match-up. Contemplated with three sets as Osaka hasn’t played since the Australian Open.
Jankovic d. Barthel in 3 sets – My match of the day for day 1. The pair are tied at 1-1 in their head-to-head but their last meeting was nearly three years ago. Barthel is dangerous if she brings her AO form but I think Jankovic will feel at home in Dubai, since it is her home, and the wins in Doha qualifying might help her out mentally if this goes the distance.
Vinci d. Kr. Pliskova in 2 sets – Karolina Pliskova has always had tough matches against Vinci. I think this is a tough match-up for the sisters and that the Italian player will spin her web of trickery.
Ostapenko d. Wang in 3 sets – Ostapenko still puzzles me a little but i’ll give her the benefit of the doubt. Wang is a pretty solid baseliner.
Begu d. Sevastova in 3 sets – A coin toss, Begu has lost her last two matches 7-5 in the third set but I feel on a positive, she’s competing much better than at the start of the year. I feel like she is due a win and this might go her way.
Makarova d. Zhu in 2 sets – I’m still in the mindframe of Makarova being reliable even if that hasn’t really been the case!
Pavlyuchenkova d. Jabeur in 3 sets – Jabeur’s an exciting player to watch and I think this could be a close one despite the large difference in rankings. Pavs just…
Zheng d. Arruabarrena in 2 sets – The tide seems to be turning for Zheng who has won four matches through qualifying in Doha and Dubai. Prior to the former, she had lost 10 out of 11 matches. Arruabarrena has won just one singles match in 2017. I think both have very resourceful games but struggle to perform in the critical moments.
Golubic d. Buyukakcay in 3 sets – A biggg match, both going for their first singles wins of 2017. The pair are tied at 2-2 in their head-to-head – Buyukakcay won in AO qualifying in 2015, 2-6 6-0 6-0! Golubic has only played two singles matches so hasn’t found her rhythm yet. I think she’s more likely to come through with her more aggressive groundstrokes.
Soler-Espinosa d. Siegemund in 3 sets – All three of their previous matches on the ITF circuit have gone the distance. Siegemund is on an eight match losing streak and appeared to be injured in Doha.
WTA Dubai R1 Poll for Sunday
WTA Dubai WWW Poll
WTA Dubai Full Draw Predictions
R1
Kerber
Jankovic
Shvedova
Garcia
Stosur
Konjuh
Brengle
Vesnina
Cibulkova
Makarova
Davis
Vinci
McHale
Osaka
Zheng
Svitolina
Muguruza
Bondarenko
Golubic
Wozniacki
Bellis
Soler-Espinosa
Mertens
Radwanska
Strycova
Peng
Begu
Vandeweghe
Pavlyuchenkova
Ostapenko
Mladenovic
Ka. Pliskova
R2
Kerber
Garcia
Konjuh
Vesnina
Cibulkova
Davis
Osaka
Svitolina
Muguruza
Wozniacki
Bellis
Radwanska
Strycova
Vandeweghe
Ostapenko
Ka. Pliskova
R3
Kerber
Konjuh
Cibulkova
Svitolina
Muguruza
Radwanska
Strycova
Ka. Pliskova
QF
Konjuh
Svitolina
Muguruza
Strycova
SF
Svitolina
Muguruza
F
Muguruza
Export taken from Tennis Draw Challenge predictions
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